Paranormal Romance. Julie is desperate for one more chance to talk to her beloved grandmother, Miriam. Everything feels wrong since Miriam died and Julie and her mom were forced to start over in a tiny apartment on the shabby side of Beverly Hills. But when Julie and her adorably quirky best friend Clark use a Ouija board to contact Miriam's spirit, they accidentally unleash something dark…and strangely thrilling. With author Francesca Lia Block's distinctive "sweetness spiked with moments of grittiness" (Booklist), this multilayered yet fast-paced read will appeal to fans of character-driven paranormal romance.

Mystery. Despite its cheerful name, the town of Friendship, Wisconsin, is seething with twisted secrets -- secrets which start to emerge following the gruesome murder of homecoming queen Ruth Fried. Ruth's best friend, Kippy, is given Ruth's diary (so that she can edit out the "sex parts"), which leads Kippy to some shocking clues about Ruth's death. The police aren't interested in the truth, so Kippy and Ruth's brother Davey team up to find the killer themselves. The folksy, "snort-inducingly funny" (Booklist) atmosphere of an eccentric small town combines with brutal crime details and edge-of-your seat suspense in this irresistibly offbeat mystery.

Urban Fiction. Ali's Brooklyn neighborhood has a reputation for drugs, guns, and violence, but Ali doesn't have time for any of that. On top of school and boxing, he's got to look out for his little sister Jazz, his best friend Noodles (who loves comic books and trouble), and Noodles' brother Needles (who knits as a way of coping with Tourette's syndrome). Though he's loyal to a fault, Ali finds himself questioning his friendships after a misunderstanding at an illicit party puts his life in danger. Fans of Coe Booth who are looking for more unflinching-yet-hopeful urban fiction should definitely pick up this authentic debut novel.

Fiction. For 17-year-old Emma, everything changed in a few heartbeats. That's all the time it took for her pregnant mother, Lisa, to have a stroke that rendered her brain-dead. Now, Emma's stepfather has decided to keep Lisa on life support until the baby can be born, a decision that Emma is sure Lisa wouldn't want, but that she's powerless to change. The only person who seems to understand Emma's pain and rage is her classmate Caleb, a messed-up guy who feels responsible for his sister's death. If you love angsty romance and ripped-from-the-headlines family drama, you won't want to miss this heart-wrenching and thought-provoking look at grief, love, and letting go.

Gothic Horror. In this sequel to The Madman's Daughter, 17-year-old Juliet Moreau has escaped from her mad scientist father and made a life for herself in London. But she hasn't given up on her own scientific experiments, nor has she reconciled her conflicted feelings for the dashing Montgomery and the part-human, part-beast Edward. And when series of bloody killings strikes London, Juliet realizes that escaping from her father's nightmarish legacy will be much more difficult than she had suspected. For another eerie Gothic thriller with a scandalous love triangle, try Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor.

If You Like: The Divergent Trilogy

The movie adaptation of Veronica Roth's bestselling Divergent hits theaters this month. If you've already read the whole trilogy and you still want more gritty, action-packed, dystopian science fiction, check out the controlling authorities, weird science, and rebellious teens in the books on this list. And if you like these, you're in luck -- each book is the 1st in a series.

Dystopian SF. In the aftermath of war and plague, most of New York City's survivors have moved underground, establishing enclaves where they eke out an existence and hide from zombie-like Freaks. After 15-year-old Deuce, an enclave-dweller, earns the rank of Huntress, she is paired with a mysterious outsider named Fade...and the two of them discover a secret that could destroy their precarious society. While there are hints of deeper feelings between Deuce and Fade, this violent, gritty, and suspenseful series-starter will appeal most to those who like the world-building and pulse-pounding action of the Divergent or Hunger Games trilogies.

Dystopian SF. In future world decimated by climate change, apprentice midwife Gaia lives along the shore of what used to be Lake Michigan, helping her mother deliver babies and making sure to "advance" the required three newborns per month to the exclusive, walled-in Enclave. Gaia is forced to infiltrate the Enclave herself after her parents are arrested as traitors, and though she finds help (maybe even love?) from someone unexpected, she also uncovers devastating secrets that shatter her understanding of her society. This intriguing, provocative thriller is the 1st in a trilogy that continues with Prized and Promised.

Science Fiction. High school senior Lena Haloway is counting the 95 days until her appointment to undergo the operation that every citizen has at age 18 to prevent them from contracting amor deliria nervosa -- love, which is seen as a deadly disease. At first, Lena is eager for the surgery, believing it will make her life happy and safe. But then she meets handsome and enigmatic Alex, and she's not so sure anymore... Gripping, romantic, and with a vividly evoked setting (a near-future Portland, Maine), this edgy 1st book in a trilogy (followed by Pandemonium and Requiem) will leave you breathless to know what happens next.

Thriller. When Benson Fisher is accepted into Maxfield Academy, he's relieved to escape from the foster care system and excited to make a fresh start. But soon after the doors of the boarding school lock behind him, Benson realizes that he's made a huge mistake. Students at Maxfield are trapped, under constant surveillance, and at war with each other -- and the punishment for rule-breakers is death. Be sure to start this impossible-to-put-down novel (a great choice for fans of James Dashner's The Maze Runner) when you have plenty of time, because its brutal action, startling revelations, and surprising twists are sure to keep you reading straight through the cliffhanger ending -- and maybe even into the sequel, Feedback.

Dystopian SF. Far into Earth's future, 18-year-old Saba ekes out a hardscrabble existence with her father, twin brother, and younger sister on a dry, dusty, used-up scrap of land. Saba cares about very little besides her family, so when Lugh, her twin, is kidnapped, she immediately sets out to save him. Little does she know the dangers she'll face on her journey -- or the powerful secrets she'll learn. First in a trilogy, and reminiscent of science fiction classics such as the movie Mad Max and Frank Herbert's Dune novels, Blood Red Road is sure to satisfy fans of intense, fast-paced stories that blend action and romance.

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